Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been recognised as a prospective site for Heathrow Airport’s expansion scheme as a key ‘Logistics Hub’ in the North of England.
The next stage of the shortlisting process will begin in January 2018. Leeds Bradford Airport is also on the list for the Yorkshire and Humberside region. 65 sites have been named on the list from across the UK.
Only four sites will be selected in the UK and will be off-site centres for construction and manufacturing, which will help the airport deliver its ambitious plan for a third runway.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport says its highly accessible 1,600-acre Aero Centre Yorkshire site, has a vast amount of land available in comparison to many other airports in the UK.
And the airport adds, following the construction of the £56 million Great Yorkshire Way link road, there is now considerable ease of access to Doncaster Sheffield Airport, with over six million people within a 60-minute journey radius.
Added to motorway links via the A1(M) and M18 provide a direct road link to Heathrow, along with the North of England and Scotland, the gateway says it makes Aero Centre Yorkshire a prime site for the project.
The airport is also aiming to achieve rail connectivity from the East Coast Mainline in the not too distant future, therefore providing a potential direct rail link to the airport for Logistics Hub users and passengers.
There is a 20-year masterplan for Aero Centre Yorkshire, which the airport says ensures a future-proofed site with a focus on creating jobs through a range of commercial developments.
The addition of a Heathrow Logistics Hub the airport believes would further promote the region’s status as a thriving part of the UK with plenty of opportunity for investment and growth.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport chief executive, Steve Gill says: “Aero Centre Yorkshire is not only a unique proposition for the region, it is also a natural fit for the Heathrow Logistics hub. With excellent road links already in place and plans to implement a dedicated airport station which would connect the East Coast Mainline directly to site, we feel confident that our proposal suits Heathrow’s requirements.
“We are proud to be a part of the Sheffield City Region, an area which is recognised world-wide for its expertise in high precision engineering and thriving manufacturing supply chain, and this is a large part of our offering. The combination of Aero Centre Yorkshire’s capacity and a skilled regional workforce would make for an excellent logistics hub for the UK’s biggest airport.
“The inclusion of such a project into the ever expanding vision of Doncaster Sheffield Airport would provide a further facilitator for economic growth which would be felt across the Sheffield City Region. We are excited to participate in the next stage of the process.”
